THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday escalated the Philippines, including the National Capital Region, to “high risk” classification for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after seeing rapid growth in cases in just a week.
In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said: “Nationally, we are now at high-risk case classification from low-risk case class in the previous week.
The National Capital Region is also at high risk in classification.”
It was back in late September 2021 when the Philippines was last classified at high risk, while Metro Manila last stood in the same category back in the middle of October 2021.
Vergeire said the heightened national classification was prompted by the 222 percent two-week growth rate and the 1.07 average daily attack rate per 100,000 population during the period December 20, 2021 to January 2, 2022.
In the NCR, Vergeire noted how the region registered an 813 percent two-week growth rate and a 5.42 average daily attack rate per 100,000 population.
According to the DOH, Calabarzon also registered a “moderate risk” classification due to its 270 percent two-week growth rate and 0.99 average daily attack rate per 100,000 population.
Four regions, namely Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao, on the other hand, climbed to “low risk” classification, while the remaining 11 other regions stayed at “minimal risk” classification.
The 11 regions are the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Mimaropa, Ilocos Region, Caraga, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, Eastern Visayas, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Bicol Region.
Vergeire said the surge in cases can be attributed mainly to the increased mobility during the holiday season.
“We all know that during this holiday season, most of us were on vacation, had our reunion and gatherings with our family. Most of the infections now are coming from households, in the communities,” she said.
Another potential cause, she said, is the suspected presence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
“We, however, still need a definitive proof that Omicron is already in our communities,” said Vergeire.
HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS
But while cases are already surging, the DOH said the overall healthcare utilization rates in the Philippines and the NCR remain at minimal risk classification.
Nationwide, Vergeire said the healthcare utilization rate is at 17.98 percent while the ICU utilization rate is at 21.71 percent.
In Metro Manila, she said that healthcare utilization rate is at 24.45 percent while the ICU utilization rate is at 26.97 percent.
Vergeire, however, pointed out that the numbers have been increasing in recent weeks.
“In the recent week, admissions nationwide increased by 9 percent. Over the course of one week, the NCR also saw a 49 percent increase in admissions,” said Vergeire.
